Secretly provides patients with a teddy bear, so they don't feel lonely at night

Orlando, Florida, October 26, 2011 — Anyone who has spent a night as a patient in a hospital knows how uncomfortable it can be; an unfamiliar setting complete with a host of unusual noises from both people and equipment. It can be especially lonely for those without nearby family and friends to visit.

Patients at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Va. received comfort and compassion – in the form of a soft, cuddly teddy bear – despite having had no visitors. Eventually the nursing staff was able to determine that the benefactor was a housekeeper, Delores Duck.

For her efforts, Duck has been named one of only five National CARES winners by Sodexo, Inc. at the annual healthcare meeting here today. The CARES awards recognize Sodexo health care employees each year who embody the company values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Service.

When asked about the bears, Duck was initially reluctant to come forward. She asked to remain anonymous. Today Sodexo provides her with the teddy bears – which she had been purchasing with her own money – as a way to say 'thank you' for improving the quality of patients' stays and helping them get well.

Sodexo Health Care is a strategic partner to hundreds of leading health care facilities in North America, providing on-site services and innovative solutions that improve the patient experience and outcomes in hospitals and other health care settings, and maximize and maintain independence and quality of life for seniors. Through the service spirit, passion and expertise of more than 65,000 employees, we help improve the quality of daily life for millions of hospital patients, their loved ones and friends, medical and other hospital staff, retirement community residents and staff as well as those aging at home.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.